7 Facts About Chester Cathedral

Chester cathedral is nothing short of impressive. If you’re to open any travel guide or talk to locals, they’ll all tell you the same. Its ancient spires and towering archways engulf you, and don’t even get us started on the acoustics. Our hairs are still raised from the last candlelight concert we attended. But for new visitors, aside from its beauty, what is it that has captured so many travelers' attention to this one venue? Let us shed the light, and showcase our favourite 7 facts about this cathedral that will entice you to visit again and again.

Coming up in this article: 

• 7 Unusual Facts About Chester Cathedral You May Not Know 

  1. The oldest parts of the cathedral date back to 1093

  2. The friends of the cathedral are serious LEGO fans 

  3. Chester Cathedral has been defaced throughout history 

  4. The cathedral hosts many unconventional events 

  5. The woodworkers who carved the choir stalls had overactive imaginations 

  6. You can catch your favourite movies at Chester Cathedral 

  7. In the Baptistry you can discover the remnants of an ancient game 

7 Unusual Facts About Chester Cathedral You May Not Know 

Chester’s captivating beauty is often the foundations to attracting you to this city while on a tour of England. But really, we don’t think you need much convincing to make this city a stop on your small-group trip. For those who seek history and culture while visiting new regions, let us shine the spotlight on Chester Cathedral’s top facts to get you inspired for your next visit.   

1. The oldest parts of the cathedral date back to 1093.

Chester Cathedral began its life as a Benedictine Abbey in 1093. The site had previously been used as a place of worship during Saxon times, but the Benedictine monks were the first to build a church there in the Norman style. This Norman influence can still be seen in the north transept, the north tower and parts of the cloister. The cathedral was rebuilt from 1250 onwards in the much more dramatic Gothic style. Spotting the differences between the two architectural styles is an interesting exercise, even for those who aren’t well-versed in design.

2. The friends of the cathedral are serious LEGO fans

Competed in 2023 after an eight-year project, you can see the massive 275,000 brick LEGO recreation of Chester Cathedral. The cathedral’s avid LEGO-lovers are designing unique pieces to reflect the historical importance of the building. During Summer 2019, Chester Cathedral will also be hosting ‘The Deep,’ an exhibition of LEGO sculptures of sea life. It will include a 2.7-metre-tall giant squid made from a whopping 120 000 bricks.

3. Chester Cathedral has been defaced throughout history.

Chester Cathedral has survived a few tumultuous periods in religious history. When Henry VIII dissolved the Benedictine Abbey in 1541, the shrine to St Werburgh was broken and the colourful walls of the Lady Chapel were whitewashed. Thankfully, The Lady Chapel has since been restored to its former glory. The cathedral was again defaced by puritans during Cromwell’s influence, and many important statues and architectural elements were destroyed. You can still see evidence of this vandalism around the cathedral today.

4. The cathedral hosts many unconventional events.

You wouldn’t usually associate a 2,000-year-old cathedral with activities like abseiling. But the caretakers of Chester Cathedral are happy to allow thrill-seekers to traverse its ancient interior with ropes and grappling hooks for a good cause. This is just one example of how the cathedral readily adapts its space to enhance community interest and welcome peoples of all denominations. Chester Cathedral has also hosted numerous modern art exhibitions, one of the most recent being David Mach’s ‘Two Twisted.’ Two classic cars were delivered into the cathedral and displayed in shipping containers – now that’s something you don’t see every day in a place of worship.

5. The woodworkers who carved the choir stalls had overactive imaginations.

The choir stalls found in the Quire, date back to 1380 and feature intricately carved misericords. Here you’ll find all kinds of creatures including hounds, angels, dragons and maidens carefully weaved into the woodwork. However, on many occasions the craftsmen may have gone off-piste when depicting animals they’d never seen before. One elephant appears to have a horse’s hooves for feet. Other wicked looking creatures have human heads meshed with the bodies of beasts. It’s a vivid insight into these creators’ imaginations.

6. You can catch your favourite movies at Chester Cathedral.

Chester Cathedral enjoys amazing acoustics and can house a large audience. So, what better place to watch your favourite film? Every now and then, friends of the Cathedral clear out the pews in the Nave, roll out the artificial turf and lower the projector to create an ‘Indoor/Outdoor’ Cinema. You can lay down your picnic rug and enjoy a free movie - rain, hail or shine. What’s on the lineup? In the past, the Cathedral’s walls have reverberated with Celine Dion’s ‘My Heart Will Go On’ during a teary screening of Titanic. But it’s also been filled with the joyful giggles of children and adults alike throughout an exuberant showing of Finding Nemo.

7. In the Baptistry you can discover the remnants of an ancient game.

Wander into one of the oldest sections of the Cathedral and you’ll find the Baptistry. On the stone plinth of the north-east tower, you can find the board of an ancient game called nine men’s morris. It’s a two-person strategy game dating back to the Roman period. Perhaps the monks liked a competitive match in their downtime? Or some rebellious novice needed a way to while away time during lengthy services?

Roam the Pews of the Cathedral on a Small-Group Tour  

Chester Cathedral is much more than a place of worship. It’s a site of incredible historical importance, an impressive example of several architectural styles and, moreover, a progressive community hub for people from all walks of life. And it would be a shame to miss out on this attraction while in the heart of England. Whether you undertake the trip as a solo traveller, or buddy up with your nearest and dearest, the Cathedral will be waiting with open arms.  

You can visit Chester Cathedral on Rabbie’s 3-day Snowdonia, North Wales and Chester tour departing from either London or Manchester.

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